Hoffman attempts to drunk-boat Doheny

We just coined that term, made possible by Doug Hoffman’s just-released statement calling on his GOP primary opponent Matt Doheny to release “all Coast Guard, Police and court papers relating to his two 2006 [sic] arrests for operating a boat while legally drunk.”

The statement muffs the year; the Watertown Daily Times’ story — by the outstanding Jude Seymour — cites the incidents as taking place in 2004; it’s in the headline, in fact. Hoffman’s statement:

The Hoffman for Congress (NY-23) campaign today called on Matt Doheny to release all Coast Guard, Police and court papers relating to his two 2006 arrests for operating a boat while legally drunk. Initial media reports said that his campaign had agreed to turn the material over to reporters and then reneged; claiming they no longer had them. The initial reports on the two arrests appeared in an August 3,2010 story in the Watertown Daily Times.

Chris Baker, Senior Advisor to the Hoffman campaign said, “It’s time for Matt Doheny to come clean with the voters of the 23rd Congressional District. The Doheny campaign publicly pledged to release the paperwork on this matter, now they claim they no longer have them. It is important for the voters of the 23rd Congressional District have a clear and accurate view of what transpired when Mr. Doheny was arrested twice in a two week period near his private Island.”

Conservative Republican Doug Hoffman said, “Press reports stated that my opponent acted in a belligerent and disrespectful manner that forced the U.S. Coast Guard to place him in handcuffs. As the father of a decorated New York State Trooper and someone who has a deep and profound respect for the professionalism and commitment of our law enforcement, military and homeland security forces, I quite frankly, find it disturbing that a candidate for Congress would act this way with individuals who are sworn to protect us. It is incumbent upon Matt Doheny to be open and honest about the circumstances surrounding these arrests and give the voters of our district a clear, unvarnished view of what transpired. The best way to achieve that is to immediately release all paperwork connected to these arrests.”